‘Rape is always a crime’ say child abuse charities

Children’s charities and those which support rape victims have reacted strongly to the claims made by the former newspaper tycoon Eddy Shah that some underage victims “are to blame” for their abuse if they engage in “consensual sex”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5Live Peter Saunders, Chief Executive of the National Association of People Abused in Childhood said he wanted to meet with Mr Shah to understand his views.

I’d like to meet with Eddie, and to have him explain to me, and maybe explain to some rape victims, what he means by ‘raped raped’, because my understanding is there is rape, or there is not rape, and rape is always a crime.

– PETE SAUNDERS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE ABUSED IN CHILDHOOD SPEAKING ON BBC RADIO 5LIVE